A brief overview of mushrooms will be discussed, including how they are identified, the countless ways they are essential to life on Earth, and why specific species occur in certain areas like forests, pastures, and gardens. Mushrooms commonly encountered in local areas and those potentially toxic to humans and pets will be emphasized.

See the attachment, Mushroom Medicinal Value.

Mike Davis is a retired Professor and Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology at UC Davis, where he taught plant pathology classes as well as courses on mushroom identification, cultivation, and phylogeny. Most of his research was focused on environmentally sound applications of disease management measures of fungal diseases of field crops and vegetables, including mushrooms. He has written popular articles and technical papers on mushrooms, including descriptions of several new species. He is the lead author of Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America published in 2012.